Today’s Best Dressed Reader: Jackie Masters The Art Of Holiday Dressing: glamour.com

On Friday I had a truly lovely feature on Glamour.com for their blog, Slaves to Fashion. 
Check out what Glamour has to say and how you can get my look for less. 

You can read the post here!

Thanks to everyone for all their love and support with The Hourglass! 

Lucky Leopard

(top-Nanette Lepore from CrossRoads SF, jeans-BDG, jacket-H&M, necklace-Banana Republic, shoes-Coach)

I picked this amazing leopard top up at CrossRoads in SF this past summer.  I couldn't believe I scored a Nanette Lepore top for $25!  This woven leopard top was a gem to find since it is versatile and seasonless.  

Here are all the reasons I love this top:
-leopard with a twist: leopard is always classic but in these grey tones with pops of teal, this leopard is unique and fun.

-versatile: I went for an edgier urban look for this outfit, but I have paired this top with teal flats, pearl earrings and hair in a low messy bun to make it sweeter and more classic.

-seasonless: this top can be worn all year.  Paired with the right bottoms and colors this top is appropriate for all seasons.

Amber Glow

 

 

(sequin cardigan-J.Crew, lace skirt-Ann Taylor, tights-Gap, shoes-Urban Outfitters, hat-Thrift, leather gloves-borrowed from mom’s closet, shirt-Gap)

What I love about this outfit is that it is incredibly versatile.  The lace skirt and sequin cardigan can be worn together to make a big statement or worn separate with black to be more casual.

Since the outfit is comprised of two statement pieces I made sure to leave accessories to a minimum-no necklace, earrings, or bracelets.  

It was super cold the weekend I wore this outfit, so I put on a fur trimmed hat and leather gloves to keep warm.  Since the gloves and hat are black and are true winter accessories, I felt they actually completed the outfit and added something to it rather than takeaway from the statement pieces. 

The holidays are a time to add whimsy to your outfits, so that is why I went for it and paired an antique yellow sequin cardigan with a lace skirt.  The combination becomes a perfect Holiday outfit that is dressed up while still being fun and whimsical.  Investing in these pieces has been ideal for my winter season wardrobe. 

I have made so much use out of the cardigan-it is perfect to pair with blue jeans and flats for work and I can add heels at night when I go out.  The black lace skirt has also been very versatile and I have paired it with a black top and solid black tights to let the skirt be noticed more.  I had fun wearing this outfit and love any excuse to  pair sequins and lace!

Sisterhood

 

She's Blonde, I'm brunette.  
Like cookies and cream, we are compatible like 2 peas in a pod.
The Holidays make me warm and fuzzy with lots of love.

Oh, Christmas Tree

 

It's our family tradition to get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.

I wore my brother's buffalo plaid jacket, velvet leggings and Banana Republic rain boots. 
The tree farm is so much fun to visit, and it even has animals!  I love feeding the huge pig named Elvis blades of green grass which don't grow in his muddy pig-pen.  My brother, sister and I had fun snapping photos around the tree farm, and I even got to snap a photo of Santa sleeping.

I love the Holidays, they make me so cheery and merry!

 

Many Thanks

 

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and got to share lots of love with family and friends.

I wanted to share some photos of our Thanksgiving dinner table.

I have to say that my mom sure has a magic touch with her talent of creating a wonderful ambiance in our home.  Since she is an amazing floral designer, we always have fresh flowers and a whimsy of creativity floating throughout the home.  
Check out her Website http://www.savageroseflorals.com/.  


My parents have this ridiculously awesome dining room table that was designed by the Landscape Architect Jack Chandler.  The steel table is a creation of his feng shui combination of art and functionality.  The table has a center that is hollow to allow artistic creations to come to life out of it.  


For Thanksgiving I helped my mom create this wild centerpiece.  The first object put into the center was a large branch.  We then added dry florals, feathers and leaves.  I strategically placed wheat grass in a way that created movement, like they were blowing in the wind.  We added fresh Casa Blanca flowers to bring a pop of freshness to the table.  It ended up being a perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece that was artistic, yet functional-- as it didn’t obstruct anyone’s view at the table.  

I was quite productive this Thanksgiving break—I turned into an Art & Crafts machine!

Here is what I did:
-Started and finished knitting an entire scarf 
-Painted a painting
-Made hand-made Christmas cards for friends
-Made ornaments for my parent's Christmas tree

I was a non-stop knitting-baking-painting-craft machine!
Boy, did it feel good to start AND finish some projects though!  I will post my creations soon to share with you!

Wind & Waves

 

(velvet dress-F21, shoes-Coach, sash-Thrift, necklace-Banana Republic, earrings-Anthro, watch-Guggenheim museum Kandinsky collection)

  

I have to admit that these beach pics are leaning towards the cheesy side—but you have to agree this beach is gorgeous!  The cliff, the wind, the absolute tranquility of having no one on the beach was what made this stop so special.

I threw on my F21 velvet dress and gave it some finesse with a kimono type sash that I got for $1 at a craft fair.  I knew we would be driving and running around so I wanted to be comfortable.  I also wanted to look slightly dolled up for our anniversary so I put on the Banana Republic statement necklace to complete the outfit.  I have made so much use of this velvet dress and have found it to be incredibly versatile.  I suggest picking up some velvet pieces this Holiday-they are perfect to look chic when you are casual, or fun while you are dressed up!

Road Trip Weekend

 

 

My romantic boyfriend surprised me for our Anniversary and planned a little road trip to Carmel.  We whisked off onto the road and made our first stop in Half Moon Bay.  We frolicked in the Half Moon Bay beaches, explored tide pools, and Mario found a perfect sand dollar in the sand.
We then ventured to Santa Cruz where we walked in the rain at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  The amusement park was closed, but we still played a couple games at the Boardwalk arcade.  
Then we continued our road trip to Carmel, where we checked into a quaint hotel right in the heart of downtown.  Before dinner, we had to of course keep our gypsy traditions alive-- so we bought a bottle of wine to sip and enjoy as we snuggled under an umbrella in the rain and walked around downtown Carmel.  A feast of Spanish Tapas, a pitcher of Sangria and dancing completed the night.  

We spent Sunday driving to Monterey, but took a nice drive along the famous 17-mile drive to get there.  The 17-mile drive is one of the most majestic and inspiring drives—every stop along the way is a picturesque and magical place with lots of history to learn about.  
Road trip weekends are the best—I love how I can go to a familiar place but find new things that inspire me every time.

Knitting the day away

As my sister suggested this blog post should have really been titled knitting the YEAR away.  I have been working on this darn scarf all year.  I started it in March, forgot about it all summer, and then picked up again this Fall.  The skein of yarn got tangled somewhere in-between all those months it was forgotten, which caused the knitting process to be super slow since I had to untangle the yarn every time I completed a couple rows.  Anyhow, when this baby is finished I will post some photos of how I plan on styling it.  

Back to knitting…